Doug Ford questions scrutiny of police paid duty

Coun. Doug Ford is raising objections to the scrutiny being given to the city's practice of hiring off-duty police officers to stand guard at special events or construction sites, a practice that the city's budget chief said has "gotten out of hand."

Coun. Doug Ford is raising objections to the scrutiny being given to the city's practice of hiring off-duty police officers to stand guard at special events or construction sites, a practice that the city's budget chief said has "gotten out of hand."

Ford made the comments at a Tuesday meeting of council's budget committee. The committee was discussing a report authored by auditor general Jeffrey Griffiths that found Toronto could save $2 million if it changes its policies toward so-called paid duty.

"It just seems like we're just pounding away on police here when there's so many other inefficiencies happening all over the city," said Ford, the brother of Mayor Rob Ford, who was voted into council on a promise of fiscal conservatism and accountability.